Level of Consciousness1

The three levels of consciousness are the sub-consciousness state, consciousness state and the super-consciousness state. A Self-realised master is in the state of super-consciousness: The doors are open. Swami Kriyananda would say, “I felt as though I had on a miner’s hat with the light beaming through, illuminating the world. Everything looked so much brighter because the higher centres were opening up.” Swamiji composed a great deal of music, especially toward the end of his life. “I always hear music. I write down only a small fraction of what I hear.” It was almost as though the music came, drawn down, from the celestial music of the spheres.

In contrast, the state of sub-consciousness is riddled with the past, with biases, memories, beliefs, anxiety, anger, attachment, fear and karma. To overcome these, meditation can play a pivotal role as it takes you toward your higher Self. And once you get a taste of that higher Self, you seek more of it.